Improvement in animal-traps



F. l. ELDRED.

Animal-Traps.

N0.148,l94f I Patented March 3. 1874.

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A'IENT OFFICE.

FRANKLIN J. ELDRED, OF WEBSTER, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN ANIMAL'TRAPS.

' Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 148,194, dated March 3, 1874; application filed October 28, 1873.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANKLIN J ELDRED, of Webster, in the county of Monroe and State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Animal-Traps; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the construction and operation of the same.

My invention consists of the construction of the frame or body, as hereinafter described, and the-arrangement of the working parts connected therewith.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view. Fig. 2 is a vertical section.

The frame or body of the trap is preferably made of cast-iron, although it might be made of other material. It consists of a base, A, which is continuous, extending all the way around, but in the form of a rim or flange, which incloses a hollow space. From this rim rises a series of open chambers, B B, the contiguous sides a a of which are thin webs, which stand at right angles to each other. The tops of these sides are squared to a suitable degree, and from this point the outer edges incline outward as they extend downward, and are connected crosswise by sharpedged flanges b b, which serve for the covers to strike upon, as will be presently described. The outline of the frame, as above described, is a crossthe chambers B B standing at right an gles, and the tops being entirely open, leaving a hollow inclosed space within. The tops of the sides a (I, therefore, present only a thin edge, which draws readily from the sand, while the bottom or base A preserves the connection around, and unites the chambers together. In each of the open chambers is a swinging cover, 0, which is pivoted at 0, so as as to turn up or down. The outer edge of the covers coincides with the sharp-edged flange b of the frame. In the top of each of the extends outward in an inclined direction, and has its extremity bent downward to form a trigger to engage with and hold the cover when set. The other end, k, extends downward through a slot, Z, in the cover, and has the bait m attached to its lower end.

To set the trap, the covers 0 are turned up and engaged with the trigger i, as shown at the left in Fig. 1.' This presents the bait in a convenient position for the operations of the animal, and the tampering with the bait springs the cover, thus imprisoning the unfortunate and unhappy victim of his own temerity between the edges of the cover and frame.

A special novelty in this case consists in the construction of the frame as above described-that is, with the continuous base'A and open-topped chambers B B, which have only a thin' web or flange composing the upright part of the frame, thereby combining the parts in the most compact and effective form, and rendering the device particularly adapted to the covers and other parts connected therewith. The arrangement of the operating parts, consisting of the covers 0, cross-pins d, 'springsf, and wires 9, are new, so far as I am aware.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by'Letters Patent, is'

1. In an animal-trap, the frame, consisting of the base A and chambers B B, said base being continuous, and provided with the sharp edges 7) l1, and said chambers being opentopped and of skeleton form, as described, all adapted for use with the covers (J, in the manner and for the purpose specified.

2. In combination with the skeleton frame A B, the pivoted covers (3, cross-pins d, springs f, and wires or rods 9, arranged to operate in the manner and for the purpose specified.

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

F. J. ELDRED.

Witnesses:

FRED. A. HATCH, R. F. OSGOOD. 

